Board welcomes incoming finance director and reviews library grant, police vehicle costs and local projects

At the start of the meeting, board members introduced themselves and the chair introduced Sarah Sanders, who said she has worked 27 years at the state treasurer's office and will begin as Old Saybrook's finance director on Sept. 1. "I look forward to working with all of you and filling the big shoes," Sanders said.

Officials also reported they received library grant paperwork for a $2 million award and were arranging an insurance endorsement to name the Connecticut State Library as additional insured so construction work can proceed. "I should have them off to the Connecticut State Library tomorrow," a staff speaker said.

The board reviewed a police department request to outfit recently purchased vehicles. Staff noted the chief intended to use available benefit and salary savings and estimated the one-time outfitting cost at about $143,000. Board members asked for fuller disclosure of total vehicle costs in the future so elected members have complete information when voting on purchases.

Project updates included Route 1 paving (asphalt complete; curbing and landscape finishing imminent) and Main Street parking-lot work to be done section-by-section beginning the following week. Staff also said they expected a low bidder to be acceptable for the Saber Point seawall and issued an RFP for a landscape architect to plan park work and public meetings.

The meeting closed with announcements about a June 28 community event, a forthcoming public information meeting on a state bridge-raising project on Great Hammock Road, and scheduling notes for summer meetings.